Panthers spring six-goal upset
In harsh and slippery weather on Sunday, Panthers racked up their second win of the season with a 6-2 upset of second-placed Upstarts.
Results like these are keeping the men's league interesting although Chameleons' 5-0 rout of Rebels has ensured their lock on first place remains solid.
Panthers took to the field hoping to carry over momentum from their last victory over Rebels and they soon drew first blood when Simon Farrington sealed a neat move that started with Mark Ray. Upstarts were undaunted and quickly replied with captain Neil Carroll capitalising on some sloppy defending to notch an equaliser.
Upstarts took the lead two minutes later as new member Maarten Valk's deft handling and explosive finishing allowed him to control his initial shot off Kevin Hill in the Panthers goal and rifle the go-ahead goal into the top left corner of the net.
Play remained intense throughout the half and Farrington eventually brought the score even after some good approach play from Chris Chapman and Victor Anton-Garcia.
Both teams went in search of the winning goal but the breakthrough came from the stick of Ray after a deep, probing run from Matt Spencer.
Rookie Nicholas Chlebek then scored on his first touch of the game when he popped up unmarked to slot home a shot from Spencer which had been deflected to the far post. Ray and Farrington added two more to seal the victory.
Women's League
In women's play, Swallows continued their steamroll through the A league with a 6-0 win over Bluebirds. The team's defence and midfield are proving to be almost impenetrable and Bluebirds found little opportunity to break through.
Swallows found their way on the board early in the first half after a by Hannah Ellison.
Lisa Haynes soon followed up with a second goal - her first of the season.
Swallows were even more confident in the second half and continued to attack with well taken corner routines by Yvonne Slattery and Cath Griffiths soon making it 4-0. To put the nail in Bluebirds' coffin, Jenny Burrell finished off a shot from Ellison.
In other A play, Cardinals suffered a 2-0 loss at the hands of Canaries.
Swallows are also in first place in the B league and a 5-0 win over Bluebirds solidified that spot.
Coach Matt Spencer reportedly instructed his players they should be up 3-0 by half-time and was a happy man when they came to the break with two goals from Karen Campbell - who had a hat trick for the day - and another from Lucy Searing.
Swallows continued their midfield dominance in the second half with a goal from a fine Jess Bowdler attack into the D which was finished off by Kirwin. Campbell then hammered home a final goal from a clean corner routine. She's now the B league leading scorer.
In other B play, Swifts and Orioles battled to a 0-0 draw while Orioles were more successful in a second match against Ravens which they took 2-0.
Canaries chalked up a 1-0 win over Cardinals in a hard-fought match.